Objectification and creativity

Yang, Shiyu

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115856 Copy

Description

Title

Objectification and creativity

Author(s)

Yang, Shiyu

Issue Date

2022-07-12

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

• Loewenstein, Jeffrey
• Goncalo, Jack

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

• Loewenstein, Jeffrey
• Goncalo, Jack

Committee Member(s)

• Kraatz, Matthew
• Mueller, Jennifer

Department of Study

Business Administration

Discipline

Business Administration

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• objectification
• creativity

Abstract

The current research investigates whether and how the objectification of individuals may affect their creative performance. Drawing upon the objectification theory, I posit that being viewed or treated as a non-human instrument for organizational use (i.e., objectification) hinders individual creativity. Further, I examine the underlying mechanisms and propose that objectification dampens creativity by constraining felt autonomy, decreasing a sense of uniqueness, and undermining intrinsic motivation. In a series of studies, I find evidence largely in support of these predictions. I discuss the theoretical contributions of these findings and the practical implications for organizations and individual professionals.

Graduation Semester

2022-08

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022 Shiyu Yang

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